Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

 Paris, Texas is one of those indie movies that's very quiet, very slow-moving. It has all the big themes: guilt, regret, redemption, family drama, childhood, fathers and sons, mothers and sons.....all of it. I was close to turning it off more than once because of how slow it was.  But I was drawn back in by Harry Dean Stanton's sweet, sad eyes and the absolute need to know how it all ended.   I guess these were the same sad eyes he took with him to Pretty in Pink in 1986 but lost by the time he made it to Twin Peaks and certainly by Big Love .   All in all, a beautiful flick that really paints a picture of the early 1980's western United States.  It will make you miss the time when kids walked to school, there was no such thing as a cell phone, and you could wear the same battered jeans for days and days.  

 As the summer rolls to nearly a close, I continue to add to my ambitions.   I know everyone does different things on their whiteboards, but I like to add my plans for reading and watching.  Something catches my attention, I go down a rabbit hole, decide I need to learn more and it gets added.  I can't speak for folks trying to solve equations or crimes though. And I also can't quite explain how Drugstore Cowboy showing up on my Tubi got me to researching the indie film Paris, Texas or how Amy Irving got me to The Roches which lead me to discovering Laura Nyro and Judie Tzukie and how I think I've heard their names mentioned in other songs like maybe the awesome local band Pullover and realizing I need to update my kid's playlists so he doesn't get burnt out on the same Yacht Rock and how could I have never watched Helter Skelter and did all of the Manson family members die in prison yet?????

  This song has been featured more than once on this blog , and I make no apologies.  Although my kiddo's generation associates it with Cars, it will still always be a part of my high school memories.....even though it was extremely overplayed.   But just like so many other instances of personal growth, the lyrics mean so much more to me now. There's a world outside every darkened door Where blues won't haunt you anymore Where the brave are free and lovers soar Come ride with me to the distant shore....... You're in my blood, I'm not a lonely man..... There's no load I can't hold A road so rough, this I know I'll be there when the light comes in Just tell 'em we're survivors....... There was a distance between you and I  A misunderstanding once But now we look it in the eye....... And if you're into a real deep-dive and were a fan of The Office, you might remember this cringey scene.  But that's really a whole other story!

 My dog Rumor was an experiment.  A trial offer.  And all parties knew that going in.  Except for maybe Rumor. Rumor was an outdoor country dog.  His given name was Ruger (named after a firearm if you don't know, I didn't) which made sense for a dog raised in hunting country.  He was a stray that came to live with a loving family at about the age of 1.  He lived outdoors, slept in a garage crate at night, frolicked with an older dog pack and had a lovely life. We think he was about 4 years old.  He had been neutered, had vet care and was by no means a "rescue". His dad offered Ruger to me on a give-it-a-try basis.  He knew I wanted a dog. He told me Ruger would be sweet to me and also be my protector.  He was right on both counts.  He told me if it didn't work out, I could bring Ruger back to him and his wife.  I could tell they were a little sad when they dropped him off.  It made me glad to see that Ruger came from such ...

 In the HBO limited series multiverse, there are two series that link up perfectly in locale, subject matter and vibe: Mare of Easttown and Task.   Now, it's not hard for me to go ahead and say Mare is my favorite and, I think, the better of the two shows.  The intricacy of this story and the acting are so good that I've watched it repeatedly.....even after the mystery was solved.  It kept me guessing right up until the very end and shocked me more than once.  I don't think I've ever seen anything with the lovely Kate Winslet that I didn't like (well......let's not talk about The Regime ) and I'm thrilled that she has become an icon for women of my generation. Task is a bit of a different animal, even though it is a very similar show.  Both shows rub up against Catholicism, the complicated struggles of family, giving and accepting trust in an untrusting world, and of course, the frailties of man against strong women.   Weirdly, I don't find m...

  There's been times I'm so confused All my roads They lead to you Just can't turn and walk away

  Don't you know I tried so hard to love you in my way....

 Oh, summer..... How is my summer going?  Loverly.  Little in the hopper, but just enough to keep me happy.  Been on some adventures.  Enjoyed some media, particularly a few classic movies from the 70's. Books have been a  little meh this summer, but I have waaaay less time audio-listening in my car, which I love.  Loving my new gig.  And feeling a freedom I haven't had in years of being off the road and spending my time the way I like.  A little too much sun.  Healing little by little from grief.  Still missing old friends.  But overall, I can't complain and who would listen anyway???

  This fresh and well-researched take on the representation of high schoolers in movies had me watching clips of "Rebel Without a Cause" and thinking about how much I still love Regina King and Morris Chestnut.  This book respects the actors, the writers, and the genre all the while continually noting the cultural changes to the lives of teenagers and the reasons why Andy Hardy and Katniss Everdeen could never hang. And speaking of wild teenagers, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one.  Should this girl be punished? For sure.  For murder?  Definitely not.  This doc reminded me of my time on jury duty when we were instructed that we didn't have to "like" the defendants.....we simply had to weigh the facts fairly.  I wish these kids would learn that their social media bragging will never do them any favors later, but hell......would they ever listen? Goat is funny and cute and has a great message for kids.  It also has completely over-the...